“From the historical point of view, which is assumed by the Swami, it is to be regretted that the author has not made himself better acquainted with chronology.”
=Acton, Sir John.= Lectures on modern history; ed. with an introd. by J: N. Figgis, and Reginald Vere Laurence. *$3.25. Macmillan.
“In the present volume we find Acton’s inaugural lecture as Professor, his scheme for ‘The Cambridge modern history,’ and nineteen of his lectures, covering in giant strides the ages of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Counter-Reformation. the wars of religion, the rise of political parties, the creation of the Prussian and the Russian powers, and the American revolution.”—Ath.
“Finest and best of all is the noble and ennobling fairness in his treatment of all men and all ages.” G. S. F.
+ + =Am. Hist. R.= 12: 621. Ap. ’07. 980w.
“Great lectures as they are, they still are lectures only—knowledge cut up into sections to last forty-five minutes.”
“The highest form of art in historical writing is that which narrates events without specifying directly the ideals it is sought to convey, and yet does emphatically convey such ideals to the reader. Of this form, Lord Acton’s lectures are excellent illustrations; while that on Luther may well stand as an almost perfect example.” E. D. Adams.
+ + − =Eng. Hist. R.= 22: 164. Ja. ’07. 1200w.
“Are at once satisfactory and disappointing.”
+ − =Lond. Times.= 5: 325. S. 28, ’06. 1130w.
“The result is, on the whole, disappointing. To begin with, notes for lectures generally make poor books, and it is so in this case. Again, the subject is too large for the space in which it is treated, and suffers from overcompression.”
“It is, in fact, a primer of history. Every sentence carries with it the conviction of truth, and every page creates an impulse to delve deeper into the subject-matter.” Henry James Forman.
“In the main there can be little question of the soundness of his views, the correctness of his attitude. And, what is not unimportant, the lectures show that, ‘scientific’ historian though he was, he was keenly alive to the human element in history.”
+ + − =Outlook.= 85: 45. Ja. 5, ’07. 640w.
“Those who love the beauty of line, and the mysterious effect of chiaroscuro will enjoy these works to the utmost, and recognize them as masterpieces of the graphic arts.”